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DatoValore
TitleGroundwater-dependent ecosystems as transfer vectors of nitrogen from the aquifer to surface waters in agricultural basins: The fontanili of the Po Plain (Italy)
AbstractThe most spread groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the River Po valley are semi-natural lowland springs called "fontanili". They provide specific habitats and support high biodiversity, but are often strongly impaired by agricultural pollution. In the present study we seasonally monitored the discharge and nitrogen concentration of 48 fontanili from the Adda and the Ticino river basins. We observed a wide spatial variability of both NO3-N concentrations and flows. The annual NO3-N loads ranged from <1 to 75 t y(-1) and < 1 to 29 t y(-1) in the Adda and Ticino basins respectively. In the springs characterized by variable discharge the N loads were exported mostly during the summer season when water table level was elevated mainly due to irrigation. Upscaling the mean NO3- N load to each river catchment based on the total number of springs, we obtained an aerial export of 33.2 +/- 6.0 and 12.5 +/- 3.2 kg y(-1) ha(-1). Such loads accounted for the 30.4 and 21.5% of the N surplus estimated for the Adda and Ticino basins respectively.
SourceScience of the total environment 753
KeywordsNitrateLand useMaizeManureIrrigationGeomorphologyDischarge
JournalScience of the total environment
EditorElsevier, Lausanne ;, Paesi Bassi
Year2021
TypeArticolo in rivista
DOI10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141995
AuthorsBalestrini, R.; Delconte, C. A.; Sacchi, E.; Buffagni, A.
Text449704 2021 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141995 ISI Web of Science WOS 000588616700084 Scopus 2 s2.0 85090136277 Nitrate Land use Maize Manure Irrigation Geomorphology Discharge Groundwater dependent ecosystems as transfer vectors of nitrogen from the aquifer to surface waters in agricultural basins The fontanili of the Po Plain Italy Balestrini, R.; Delconte, C. A.; Sacchi, E.; Buffagni, A. Natl Res Council CNR IRSA; Univ Pavia The most spread groundwater dependent ecosystems in the River Po valley are semi natural lowland springs called fontanili . They provide specific habitats and support high biodiversity, but are often strongly impaired by agricultural pollution. In the present study we seasonally monitored the discharge and nitrogen concentration of 48 fontanili from the Adda and the Ticino river basins. We observed a wide spatial variability of both NO3 N concentrations and flows. The annual NO3 N loads ranged from <1 to 75 t y 1 and < 1 to 29 t y 1 in the Adda and Ticino basins respectively. In the springs characterized by variable discharge the N loads were exported mostly during the summer season when water table level was elevated mainly due to irrigation. Upscaling the mean NO3 N load to each river catchment based on the total number of springs, we obtained an aerial export of 33.2 / 6.0 and 12.5 / 3.2 kg y 1 ha 1 . Such loads accounted for the 30.4 and 21.5% of the N surplus estimated for the Adda and Ticino basins respectively. Random Forest analysis was performed to identify the most important environmental variables influencing the nitrate contamination in the spring waters. A total of 22 explanatory variables related to N sources, land uses, intrinsic hydrogeologic and soil proprieties, in situ and remotely sensed variables were considered. The percent of soil cultivated with maize in a 500 m radius buffer area surrounding the sampling site, the N from manure and the distance of each spring from the main river were the most effective factors in controlling the NO3 N concentration in the fontanili water. The outcomes of this work open up to achievable management prospects for the protection and recovery of fontanili waters, and can be particularly useful for water managers in identifying areas and sites where restoration plans should be a priority. C 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 753 Published version Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0048 9697 Science of the total environment Science of the total environment Sci. total environ. raffaella.balestrini BALESTRINI RAFFAELLA andreastefano.buffagni BUFFAGNI ANDREA STEFANO carloandrea.delconte DELCONTE CARLO ANDREA